Karaikudi Mani Iyer
“One of the world’s greatest percussionists”
in our time passed two years ago, in 2023. I first met him in Paris when flutist Sylvie Lecerf called and told me I have to come to hear and meet him immediately. I’ve never heard anything like it. We got along well and I managed to bring him to Sweden several times and cooperated with him in Chennai on numerous occasions as well.
Sincere thanks for what Karaikudi Mani Sir gave to us all. We are able to release his music thanks to the sincere work, approval and assistance of Smt. Rajeshwari Sainath and The trustees of Sruthi Laya Kendra. It is a part of the celebrations on September 9, 2025, when he would have become 80 years old.
We recorded his first visit to Sweden in 2001
The recording we are releasing is from his first visit to Sweden where he performed at Nalen during Days of Percussion, stunning everybody with the music of his group Sruthi Laya.
There is another page where I share pics and things about my interactions with Mani Sir, it is here.
On the Country & Eastern YouTube channel you can find several great clips of Karaikudi Mani both as an accompanist to the top musicians in South India and as a soloist and leader of his Sruthi Laya ensemble.
Raga, Pallavi, Thani Avarthanam
composed, sung and played with Harishankar on Khanjira
The last time I met Mani Sir was during the 2019-20 season
I was in Chennai to listen to music and record some great music. I miss him so much.
